SEC Lawsuit Against JPMorgan results in $153.6 Million Settlement

One of the most significant legal actions involving Wall Street’s role in the 2008 financial crisis recently ended in settlement.  JPMorgan Chase & Co.  has agreed to pay $153.6 million to settle civil fraud charges brought against it by the SEC. The SEC lawsuit charged JP Morgan with mislea...
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The Costs of a Not So Pretty Picture: Tobacco Companies are Displeased with the FDA’s New Cigarette Labeling Regulations

As of September 2012, tobacco companies in the United States will need to make some pretty expensive and undesired changes to the packages and advertisements of their products. As per the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, tobacco companies will be required to modify the packaging o...
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The Cancer Scare Strikes Again: Cell Phone Radiation and the Ensuing Threat of Litigation

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced on Tuesday, May 31 some concerning findings. Cell phone usage, the radiation of which has now been classified as a carcinogen, may cause some forms of brain cancer. The study suggests t...
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Wal-Mart Prevails: Supreme Court denies Sex-Discrimination Class Action suit of 1.6 million women

The Supreme Court, overturning a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled in favor of the retail giant. The Court dismissed the class action suit brought on behalf of 1.6 million of Wal-Mart’s past and current female employees. Alleging that they had encountered a glass ceiling in ...
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Future Uncertain for Organization fighting for Equality in School Funding

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (C.F.E.) is an advocacy organization whose victory in a historic lawsuit in 2006 brought billions in additional funding to poor school districts in New York State.  The future of the C.F.E. is now uncertain, as they no longer have sufficient funding to continue operat...
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Trial begins in $30 million Tax Fraud Scheme

The trial of two former accountants began last week in Tampa, Florida.  George B. Calvert and Gregory F. Guido, both Florida natives, are alleged to have masterminded an energy tax credit scheme that defrauded the Internal Revenue Service of more than $30 million. The case revolves around an IRS pr...
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Torts: Not always a bad dog? Then owners may be off the hook for the actions of their pets.

A plaintiff commenced an action seeking damages for injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident when he attempted to avoid hitting the defendants’ dog, which had entered the road. The lower court denied defendants’ motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Supreme ...
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Education – Children’s report cards and teacher comments are not admissible under business records exception to hearsay rule.

In an issue of first impression, the Family Court, Kings County, held that children’s report cards and teacher comments are not admissible under the business records exception to the hearsay rule. The Court considered many factors in its decision and also into consideration that a child’...
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Family Law: Mother entitled to a hearing on return of children who had been removed from her home and placed with their father

In the early morning hours of February 4, 2009, three children, then aged six years, four years, and nine months, respectively, were found by a police officer wandering the streets alone. The next day, February 5th, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services filed petitions in th...
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